Green flower earrings

These are fun - green flower glass earrings with white jade beads dangling from sterling earwires. I called this pair "Jem," after my cousin - who happens to be a boy - but he's funny and a total cutie, so I thought these fun earrings were a good fit.

Jem is now available at the shop!

So after the new year Mr Hazel went into a health kick where he gave up soda and became very careful about my sugar intake (no more donuts, Cinnabon, cake, or sugary drinks - but I did put my foot down on banning dark chocolate. I can't live without dark chocolate - besides, it's good for your heart). Though I highly resent not having my weekly dose of plain glazed Dunkin Donut treats, I see the wisdom of reduced sugar, and today I also decided that it's a good idea to start exercising again.

The only problem is I am allergic to exercise. I did try in fits and starts in the past - I swam and ran on the track in college, took up golf, kickboxing, skiing, and rock climbing in my 20s, and did the treadmill thing for a while. The problem was that I got bored and lazy and would stop. I thought when I took up kickboxing with a friend it would motivate me to keep going, but what ended up happening was I used that hour of class to talk about where I wanted to go for dinner afterwards. It got to the point where I would get so hungry that I wanted to skip kickboxing and go straight to dinner. We also have a recumbent bike in our basement, but I'm currently using it as a laundry hanger.

But this isn't really healthy, so today I decided to pick up my workouts again. My sister is a fitness instructor in her free time (whereas in my free time, I am a couch instructor), so she gave me some good ideas about how to jump start my fitness routine. I thought either I could go to our gym at work - which, if you think about it, you have to be seriously lazy not to take advantage of a gym in the very same building where you work (true story: my old office building also had a gym on the premises - full service, state-of-the-art - and the only time I set foot in it was to get a free piece of cake.) My friend Michele and I were also talking about going to group classes at a private gym, which I admit would be a lot of fun. Additionally, Mr Hazel and I discussed buying a treadmill to put in our basement - um, next to the laundry bike - so I can work out in the comfort of home. Or I could take up running around my neighborhood.

I'm mulling my options.

Let's see how long this lasts before laziness wins once again.

Peach coin pearl earrings

I've had these peach coin pearls for a long time but I kept hesitating over what to do with them, until finally inspiration struck. These earrings are "Linda," named after both my aunt and my mother-in-law (also not the same person - that would be really weird otherwise). She features five champagne/peach/pink/goldish coin pearls on each earring, dangling from sterling earwires. The color is really pretty and as you can tell, a bit hard to describe.

More details and pictures of Linda are available at the shop, and over the next few days I also will be debuting the matching bracelet!

And here is a picture of my friend Mandy's order for her mom's birthday all ready to be shipped out. I included a little gift card with it, which I think I'll also start offering to customers at no extra charge should they wish to give the jewelry as gifts.

White bead necklace

Today I have a pretty necklace featuring white carved beads on sterling chain, named "Emmanuelle" after my favorite uncle (my dad's brother). I hope he doesn't mind that he looks very feminine in these pictures!

Emmanuelle is now available at the shop.

I also switched around the front picture for the Mila earrings because I think the flower shot might be more successful in luring people in to take a look at her. We'll see if this is the case!

So today I've been trying not to read the news too much on the Ohio and Texas primaries. I don't want to have a nervous breakdown. Though I have to admit this is nail-biter politics at its best! Right now it looks like Ohio is too close to call. The nail biting continues...

Chalcedony earrings

Today's new shop addition is a pair of aqua chalcedony earrings, named "Mila" after one of my aunts. She is wire wrapped in sterling earwires.

Chalcedony has to be one of my all-time favorite stones, especially this pretty aqua color. More details and pictures of Mila are available at the shop!

I also finally developed my store policies on warranties, as well as on returns and exchanges. Basically I am now offering a one-year warranty, from date of purchase, for repair work on all jewelry pieces from my shop, as well as a 30-day policy on returns and exchanges. You can find more details and information about these under the Profile section of my shop.

Tonight was the season finale of the Sarah Connor Chronicles. The last hour was amazing! The cliffhanger wasn't bad either. I feel a bit bereft, but consoling myself that The Office is coming back soon.

New shop item: pink briolette earrings

Today's new shop addition is the "Lourdes" earrings, named after my grandmother and my aunt (not the same person!). She features three sparkly, luminous pink briolettes each, wire wrapped and dangling from sterling earwires.

More details and pictures of Lourdes are available at the shop!

In very exciting news, I sold five items today!!! A buyer bought three items, the Pamela bracelet, the Claire necklace, and the Ahila earrings. The Ahila earrings seem a popular item (I've sold two now) so it looks like I'll be stocking the shop with more of this item.

Also, my friend Mandy bought the Meridith earrings and matching necklace as a birthday gift for her mom. I feel so touched and privileged at having one of my designs picked for this special occasion.

Thank you so much to both customers!

Spring countdown

My neighbor's tulips are slowly but surely coming out of the ground! I feel like coaxing them along so they'll hurry it up. You can do it, tulips!

And in another sign of spring coming, the hyacinths in my yard are also coming out!


You can even see the little purple bud already peeking out from its leaves. How exciting!

As I was surveying our yard this morning I was dismayed to note that my two azalea bushes have turned all brown and shriveled up. I think I forgot to fertilize them in the fall in preparation for the winter season, as I was told to do by the nursery guy. I am very fond of my azaleas because I planted them myself with my own two hands the summer after we moved into our house, and I was the proudest little gardener when the flowers actually bloomed in profusion.

But now I'm afraid I have killed them this winter. We will see - I'm holding my breath.

New shop item: serpentine necklace

The matching "Kathleen" necklace has been added to the shop! She is similar to the earrings, featuring green serpentine, a Hill Tribe leaf pendant, and three dangling strands of sterling silver chains.

I also made another pair of Stephanie earrings for Stephanie, who wanted her namesake but got them snatched up from under her nose by our friend Lisa. That was pretty funny. The new ones are now on reserve.

This morning I scoured the kitchen so it's now sparking clean and ready for some baking. I'm going to bake a chocolate cake in a few minutes. I love Saturdays.